Nano-hybridization effects of nano-silica and nano-graphene platelet on mechanical properties of E-glass/epoxy nanocomposites

This study reveals the nano-hybridization effects of nano-graphene platelets (NGPs) and nano-silica (SiO2 nanoparticle), having different structural geometries on the mechanical properties, nano and micro-scale failure behaviors, and nanoscale fracture mechanisms of E-glass/epoxy composites. Tensile, three-point bending, and Charpy impact experiments were applied to determine the mechanical behaviors of 0.5 wt.% NGPs, 4 wt.% nano-silica and 0.5 wt.% NGPs + 4 wt.% nano-silica nanohybrid filled E-glass/epoxy and neat E-glass/epoxy composite samples. Failure of composite samples was examined by microscopy and SEM analysis. FTIR analyses were conducted to interpret the chemical and physical interactions between the nanoparticles and epoxy resin. Nano-hybridization exhibited the highest tensile strength and three-point flexural force for the composite samples. However, the NGPs filled nanocomposites also exhibited the best static tensile toughness and impact energy absorption. The experimental data showed that it was statistically significant as a result of the one-way ANOVA analysis. Remarkably, nano-hybridization of nano-silica and NGPs showed different fracture mechanisms at the nano and micro-scales.